Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in pet care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Raceeta MacKenzie, owner of Aqua Paws Canine Aquatic and Fitness Centre, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

An aquatic fitness center just for dogs? Yes! Dogs of any age, fitness or mobility level can benefit from improved conditioning, balance, body awareness, and endurance in our self-serve canine gym, personal canine fitness training sessions, one-on-one physical rehabilitation sessions, and hydrotherapy sessions in the pool or underwater treadmill, or they can relax and heal in a "zen den" session for bodywork, LASER therapy, Reiki or acupressure.

Tell us about yourself

I love helping pets move better! Prior to becoming a veterinarian, decreasing the pain and suffering of animals was my primary goal. As I continued my post-graduate education in integrative healing modalities, such as acupuncture, chiropractic, and physical rehabilitation for pets, I discovered how effective these therapies are for improving mobility and fitness in dogs of any age and activity level.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Stepping away from convention and the "norm" in order to follow my passions and create something different is what I am most proud of accomplishing. Staying focused on the end result, working hard, and keeping the faith when times were tough is what helped me get through.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

It sometimes feels like there will never be "enough"... enough time to get everything done, enough money to grow as quickly as I would like, enough energy, and enough of me to go around.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Don't let people put you in a box. Everyone will have an opinion on how they think you "should" be doing things, but guess what?! They're not the ones doing it, you are! While it can be helpful to seek advice from others, at the end of the day, you are the one who needs to decide what kind of business you want to run and what kind of integrity and passion you will infuse into it.
  2. "Rome wasn't built in a day." Be patient with yourself and others as you work towards your goals because it's not likely that you will create exactly what you want overnight. If you take it one step at a time and keep moving forward, you will eventually get there.
  3. Stop trying to be everything to everyone, all of the time. You will never be able to please everyone. The sooner you stop trying, the sooner you will be able to focus on building the type of business that matters to you.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

I have found that when I am genuinely sharing my passion with others, I begin to attract others with similar goals, and we can all help each other along the way.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.aquapaws.ca/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aquapawsvan
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aquapawsvancouver/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.